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ER at Surrey Memorial reopens Monday

Diversion of patients to other hospitals set to end
Wall where water entered the SMH emergency room. EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
The wall where water entered the Surrey Memorial Emergency Department on Nov. 19.

Surrey Memorial Hospital's emergency department will reopen Monday morning, two weeks after a flood from a ruptured water main forced it to close.

Ambulances had been sending patients to other nearby hospitals, increasing congestion in their ERs.

Patients coming to SMH on their own had been redirected to an off-site temporary ER at the nearby Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre, but it will close Monday and patients will be transferred back to SMH.

Also reopening Monday is the medical imaging department at the hospital, with both CT scans and two X-ray suites operating.

The hospitals' MRI machine is still being assessed for possible repairs and it's not yet known how soon it can be used again.

Patients needing MRI scans will continue to go to the outpatient hospital.

Fraser Health officials say the ER restoration and equipment have passed all safety and infection control inspections.

"We recognize the inconvenience for the residents of Surrey and neighbouring communities and want to acknowledge the outpouring of community support for our staff, physicians and volunteers during this time," the authority said in a statement.

More than 100 surgeries scheduled for the first two days after the flood were postponed and how fast they're performed is dependent on the urgency of the case.

Repairing flood damage and related costs are estimated at up to $3 million, although that doesn't count the potential loss of the MRI machine.